Issue 17-144 Housing Starts

November 8, 2017

Housing starts in urban areas (areas with population of at least 10,000) in British Columbia increased 43.7% (seasonally adjusted at annual rates) in October compared to September. The increase was due to increases in apartments (+69.2%) and row units (+55.5%). Semi‑detached (‑0.5%) and single-detached home (‑9.4%) starts saw declines in the month.

Across census metropolitan areas, Vancouver housing starts almost doubled in October compared to September (+92.4%), Victoria also saw a healthy rise in the month (+31.1%). Kelowna (‑60.8%) and Abbotsford-Mission (‑29.4%) saw declines for the month.

Nationally, urban housing starts increased by 2.5% in October. The increase was concentrated in apartments (+21.6%), while all other subcomponents saw declines in the month.

Saskatchewan saw the largest increase in urban housing starts among provinces (+64.3) in October. Nova Scotia saw urban housing starts fall by almost half, the largest decline among provinces. Prince Edward Island (-24.3%), Ontario (-24.2%) and Manitoba (-21.2%) also registered declines for the month.